I'm really sorry, I was too drunk the night before yesterday. I slept too long yesterday and my head hurts, so
It was just dawn, and a dim light was on in a room of the ancient Sanqing Temple. The person who got up early was Consort Zhang. With a green lamp and an ancient inkstone, Zhang was slowly copying Zhuangzi's words. Only by following the wonderful ideas left by the ancients could she travel beyond the sky.
The night was too long, and Zhang had nothing to do so she went to bed early. Sleeping too long would make her head dizzy and make it difficult for her to fall asleep; so she got up very early.
A middle-aged woman knocked on the door and came in, whispering: "Last night, Concubine Li summoned me to see you. It is not easy for us to go in and out of Wanfu Palace. Fortunately, I often go there to do some odd jobs. It was already night, so I didn't have time to tell the queen. This morning, I hurried to report.
This woman was Zhang's friend during the reign of Emperor Taizu. She was loyal but very talkative. Zhang interrupted her and asked: "Why did Li come to see you?"
The woman said: She wants to see you and says she has something to talk to the queen about.
Oh Zhang held the brush in his hand and dipped it repeatedly in the ink in the inkstone, just like a bored child playing with mud, doing something trivial and useless.
After a while, Zhang asked again: What does she want to talk about
The woman said: I don’t know, and Concubine Li didn’t say anything either.
Zhang felt that there was nothing to talk about with this person. They had been grudges for many years. Even Zhang herself could not remember how the grudge started. Anyway, the root cause was a fight for favor. The person thought that she was to blame for not getting pregnant. Later, there were too many grudges, big and small, and the grudges were like this. But Zhang couldn't help but want to meet her to see what she wanted to do, otherwise she would be worried about this matter in her heart, suspicious and worried.
I'm not afraid of her, so what's the harm in meeting her? Zhang said, "Come back with me. I'll change clothes later. You go and ask our people to get ready, and then I'll go see Li."
It was easier for eunuchs and palace maids with some duties to enter and leave Wanfu Palace, but once concubines moved in, they were generally not allowed to leave. Zhang was able to leave only because her superiors allowed her to practice in the Sanqing Hall.
Not long after, when Zhang returned to Wanfu Palace from Sanqing Hall, she felt a chill in her heart. Sanqing Hall was even more deserted than here, but somehow, Zhang felt that Wanfu Palace was even more terrifying.
She went back, packed her things, and took a dozen palace ladies who were on good terms with her to meet Concubine Dowager Li.
Concubine Li actually went to the door to greet them. When she saw Zhang with so many people, her expression changed slightly. She was slightly stunned, then suddenly bent her knees, put her hands on her waist, bowed, looked at Zhang's toes and said: "Welcome, Your Majesty the Grand Concubine."
Concubine Li's behavior surprised Zhang. Although some women can be polite on the surface even if they have a grudge, most of the grudges are not deep; Zhang is different from this woman. In the past, the two of them had no good words to each other in person.
Zhang looked at Concubine Li and could not see any hostility from her behavior. She was still young, but she was broad and plump, and did not look slender at all.
Zhang said coldly: Concubine Li is too polite.
Concubine Li asked her to sit on the couch, looked back at the dozen people she brought with her, and said softly: "My Lady, may I have a word with you?"
Zhang responded immediately: If you have anything to say, why not say it now? We are upright and have nothing shameful to say. Why bother whispering? If someone doesn't know, they might think we are discussing some secret conspiracy. We are being suspected for no reason. Don't you think so
After hearing this, Concubine Li's face turned pale and she remained silent for a long time. Seeing this, Zhang was also on guard against her having a fit, but she held back and even showed a flattering smile.
Zhang guessed that this woman must have heard from somewhere that her nephew was favored by the new emperor. In addition, it was not easy for Zhang to go to Sanqing Hall to practice asceticism. As she had known for many years, concubines could hardly leave once they moved in, even if they went to Sanqing Hall, where they at least had the opportunity to contact people from outside. Unless she got the permission of the truly powerful people in the palace, which was what Zhang did.
Li Taifei may have guessed from various signs that Zhang had regained power; perhaps the news of the new emperor's meeting in Sanqing Hall had leaked out. Otherwise, Li Taifei could not show a humble expression in front of her.
Thinking of all the grievances and slander she had suffered in the past, Zhang couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure in her heart, as if she suddenly felt a cool breeze in the stuffy room, feeling clear and refreshing.
But with it came a chill. Zhang knew that no matter how sincere Concubine Li was, she was just trying to endure it; if she had the chance, she would definitely want revenge.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Concubine Li whispered in public: I want to apologize to the Grand Imperial Concubine today. Her face turned red when she said this, and she surrendered in front of so many people, her voice as small as a mosquito flapping its wings.
Zhang looked at her coldly. She felt bad for her. She knew it was not easy to say it out from her voice. But Zhang kept her composure and looked straight at her. She thought: Anyway, the resentment is deep enough. It's useless for me to be afraid of her.
Concubine Li stammered: There were some misunderstandings in the past. Your Majesty, please do not bear grudges. How about we make peace
Zhang remained calm and said slowly: There is no misunderstanding. I have never had any prejudice against Concubine Li.
Concubine Li murmured: That's good, that's good
Zhang did not give in and agree to reconcile because it was impossible; nor did she achieve her goal because it would be too much.
She was not afraid of Concubine Li, nor was she magnanimous. She had experienced ups and downs, and knew that she could not always be happy. Especially women, who were dependent on others.
Cao Bin, who was leading troops outside, was naturally one of the reasons why Fu Jinzhan, Guo Shao and others were more tolerant of her; but Zhang was very clear-headed, and she could not use Cao Bin as a bargaining chip for her own success. Cao Bin was not her son, and his loyalty would never be affected by his aunt; even if Zhang continued to live in the cold palace, it was natural, and Cao Bin was unwilling to care about it. Zhang was able to consider a situation very specifically: if the powerful believed some slander and disliked her, there was no need to be tolerant.
The new emperor Guo Shao only met her once, and Zhang was not sure what would happen. The most favorable situation, of course, was that Guo Shao had a good impression of her and his words could decide her fate.
This is also the reason why Zhang tried every means to get close to Guo Shao. Her motives were certainly not pure, and were mixed with too much realities and political schemes. However, when Zhang recalled it, the smaller details were inexplicably warm, and those delicate details were not political schemes.
In her mind, she saw a pair of rough hands placed on his ribbon. At that moment, he didn't know whether he should undress and show concern. She seemed to feel the hesitation in that moment.
In the Jinxiang Hall, Guo Shao's rough hands with bulging veins picked up a jade paperweight and placed it on a piece of paper with wet ink. The warm and smooth Hetian jade formed a sharp contrast with his hands.
This is a set of several rooms located to the north of the office study, used as a resting place. However, it is still very spacious, especially as the hall in the middle of several warm rooms, it occupies a large area. It is very quiet and clean here, and it is very comfortable to sit here. Even the people in the palace specially opened the windows for ventilation. The windows are covered with woven curtains, which are relatively hidden, and occasionally there is a cool breeze blowing through, so you don’t feel stuffy at all. All the furnishings and expenses are made of expensive materials and fine workmanship; even the handkerchief he covered his mouth with when he coughed was made of high-quality silk cotton material, which was breathable and smooth in his hand.
Guo Shao has had a cold these past two days, but it's not serious, just a cough.
He was a warrior who had to sleep in the open air, but now he was sitting here, feeling like he was enjoying himself in a greenhouse. However, this kind of environment was still very beneficial. It was easier to concentrate when thinking about things, because all the details were smooth and it was not easy to cause inexplicable minor irritation.
At this moment, Li Shanggong came in and said politely: Your Majesty, the person you want to summon has arrived. I brought her here.
Ask her to come in, Guo Shao said.
Soon, a young lady wearing a light red skirt and carrying a heavy box came in. She was Miss Lu, whom Guo Shao had someone bring from his home to the palace to prescribe medicine for him.
Lu Xiaoniang placed the box on the wooden floor, knelt down and said: “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
Get up quickly, there is a stool next to you. Cough Guo Shao said, I am actually fine, but the King of Wei and his men will come to Beijing in a few days. It is uncomfortable to see them with a cough, so I want to get better soon. I still believe in Madam Lu's medical skills. I have personally experienced that you are very good at treating colds. Guo Shao smiled after saying this.
Lu Xiaoniang blushed and looked back. The palace lady had already left the door, and there were only the two of them in the huge palace. Lu Lan whispered: I came to see the emperor, and I was quite scared just now, but I didn't expect that His Majesty is still the same as before.
Guo Shao smiled and said: Identity can change, but people will not change.
Lu Lan then boldly observed Guo Shao's expression and said: Stick out your tongue and let us see.
After a moment, she took a look, bit her lower lip gently to hold back her laughter, and said: "Stretch out your left hand."
Lu Lan gently lifted up Guo Shao's yellow satin sleeves and put her fingers on Guo Shao's pulse. Guo Shao let her feel his pulse without saying a word, and felt an indescribable light comfort when this girl's hand touched his skin.
Unexpectedly, Lu Lan didn't let go for a while, and suddenly said with a red face: Your Majesty, don't look at me, it makes me confused and I can't feel the pulse.
Guo Shao was surprised and said: Okay, okay, I'll turn around.